FOXBORO — Bill Belichick loaded up on pass rushers this offseason, but the success of that endeavor is truly up to the immediate execution of rookie defensive ends Geneo Grissom and Trey Flowers.
The Patriots are stacked at the top of the depth chart with 2014 starters Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich plus newcomer Jabaal Sheard, who landed a two-year, $11 million contract in free agency, and Dominique Easley is expected to get some run on the edge, too. If all four thrive and remain perfectly healthy, there’s no reason for concern. But in the extremely unlikely event that’s the case, the Pats will count on hotel roommates Grissom and Flowers to live up to their respective draft stocks as third- and fourth-round picks.